O 09. Prevalence of LOH in Korea: A nationwide study

Objectives: We performed this Nationwide study to assess the prevalence of LOH defined by total testosterone <350 ng/mL and ADAM questionnaire. Additionally. The severity of LOH was also assessed by AMS scale.

Design and Methods: Using Multi-level Stratified Random Sampling methods, a random sample of 2000 men of 40-80 years old and geographically representative of Korean population were allocated in 30 health promotion center of nationwide cities and provinces in Korea. By trained interviewer, validated patientsreported outcomes (PROs) of ADAM questionnaire and AMS were asked. Before 11 am, serum total testosterone and SHBG were measured by radioimmunoassay through central Lab. All design of population sampling and statistics was performed by expert statistician.

Results: The study population was composed of 37.9% of 40's, 34.0% of 50's, 18.1% of 60's and 9.9% of 70's to 80's, respectively. The prevalence of LOH defined as TT<350 ng/mL was 28.4% and 24.1% of 40's, 28.7% of 50's, 28.1% of 60's and 44.4% of 70's to 80's, respectively. Prevalence of LOH by TT threshold was 10.5% in TT<250 ng/ dL, 18.5% in TT<300 ng/dL and showed decade-dependent increase of prevalence. The prevalence of LOH defined by ADAM questionnaire was 88.7% and 58.3% of 40's, 77.8% of 50's, 84.2% of 60's and 88.7% of 70's to 80's, respectively. ADAM and AMS did not show significant correlation with TT. Hypertension, Diabetes and allergic rhinitis showed significant correlation with TT level as comorbid diseases.

Conclusions: Because of diagnostic limitation, prevalence of LOH showed big difference between testosterone and symptom questionnaires (28.4% by TT and 88.7% by ADAM). Prevalence of LOH in Korea is expected to increase rapidly like western countries for the demographic trends toward greater longevity and increasing comorbid diseases. More accurate diagnostic tool for LOH should be developed.